Ammunition feeder



Jan. 17, 1950 E. w. sTAcEY ET AL 2,494,728

AwnvfuNITIoN FEEDER Filed Dec. 26, 1945 5 sheets-sheet 1 JA A - \'IIIIIIIIIIIIA 'flllllllllll fzvemors* Ernesz W52@ eey Frank Wemhoid Jan. 17, 1950 E. w. sTAcEY Er AL 2,494,728

' l AMMUNITION FEEDER Filed Dec. 26, 1945 5 sheets-sheet 2l Frank WEez'nhOZa B V their/Attorney Jan. 17, 1950 E, w. sTAcEY Er A1. 2,494,728

AMMUNITION FEEDER Filed Dec. 26, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 "l A lI/lllll enfers Jan. 17, 1950 E. w. sTAcEY ET AL 2,494,728

AMMUNITION FEEDER Filed Dec. 26, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 17, 195() Filed Dec. 26, Y1945 E. W. STACEY El' AL AMMUNITION FEEDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ill Patented Jan. 17, i950 AMMUNITION FEEDER Ernest W. Stacey and Frank W. Reinhold, Beverly,

Mass., assignors to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey I lApplication December 26, 1945, Serial No. 637,236

Claims. l

This invention relates to ordnance and is illustra'tcd as embodied in a machine for automatically feeding ammunition to 37 mm. guns installed in airplanes.

In the use of automatic guns in airplanes, it is desirable in firing short bursts at enemy targets to feed ammunition to the gun as fast as the gun can take said ammunition. Machines for feeding ammunition to guns mounted in airplanes should not only be fast and reliable in their operation but should also be light and compact.

With'the above considerations in view, it is an object of the present invention to provide a satisfactory machine for effectively delivering clips of cartridges to 37 mm. guns Imounted in airplanes, for example. In accordance with a feature of the present invention, there is provided in a machine for feeding ammunition to automatic guns of the above-mentioned type a magazine or housing for receiving cartridges assembled in groups in separate clips, mechanism for successively moving the clips of cartridges to a transfer station adjacent to a feed box of a gun, and means operative in timed relation with said mechanism for delivering in contacting succession the loaded clips to said feed boX.

The clips of cartridges are loaded in stacked or tiered relation upon platforms arranged one above the other in said magazines which serves as a housing for the platforms and the clips of cartridges and is movable in azimuth and elevation together with the gun to be supplied with ammunition. Each platform comprises a plate and a spaced oppositely arranged channeled bar which are constructed and arranged to be engaged by the projectile portions and the rims of the cases of cartridges, respectively, assembled in a clip. The ammunition supporting plates and bars are secured at their lateral ends to links of oppositely arranged pairs of continuous chains which are geared together for movement in timed relation. Operatively connected to headers secured to the oppositely arranged pairs of chains, respectively, are heavy power springs which are progressively tensioned as the clips of cartridges placed successively upon the platforms in a loading or transfer station on the top of the housing are lowered into said housing, said springs serving as a source of power for moving, during firing of the gun, the tiers of cartridges successively back to Ysaid transfer station from which they are moved by a crossfeed assembly into the feed box of the gun. f

The clips of cartridges placed upon the platforms moved successively to the loading or transagainst the action of said heavy springs. twenty clips of cartridges have been stacked into the housing, said housing is full, and after swinging a clip guide, forming in effect part of the feed mechanism of the gun, back into an operative position adjacent to said transfer station, a clip of cartridges is manually fed into said guide into operative relation with a pawl carried by a feed slide of the gun, charging mechanism of the gun then being actuated to chamber the leading cartridge .of said clip. The crossfeed assembly and an escapement arm of the machine are then swung into operative positions over the housing, a bar of the escapement arm riding upon an outer portion of the clip the inner portion of which is in the clip guide. As the next to last cartridge of said clip partly fed into the feed box is stripped from said clip, the bar of the escapement arm drops down onto the top clip of cartridges in the housing, causing a pawl in engagement with one tooth of a two-toothed ratchet, operatively connected to the two pairs of platform supporting chains, to be moved away from said one tooth of the ratchet to permit the ammunition supporting platforms in the housing to be elevated in the housing by said chains. As the escapement arm is raised by upward movement of the top clip of cartridges in the housing, the pawl is moved into such a position that it is engaged by the other tooth of the ratchet when said top clip of cartridges has been raised above the housing to the transfer station, with the result that the chains, and accordingly upward movement of the platforms, are stopped as said top clip of cartridges has been moved to said transfer station.

The crossfeed assembly for moving the clips of cartridges at the transfer station into the feed box of the gun comprises a spring-actuated spoked driver energized, in accordance with a feature of the present invention, by means :movable in response to movement of the top clip of cartridges in the housing to the transfer station. When said top clip of cartridges arrives at the transfer station, the driver is immediately actuated to insure that the leading end of the clip at the transfer station shall be forced against the rear end of the clip which is in the feed box and at that time still has one cartridge to be stripped from it. Once the machine is adjusted for operation, twenty clips of cartridges in the housing are delivered automatically to the gun, said clips being moved successively from the housing Aor When magazine to the transfer station and upon arrival at said station being immediately transferred to the feed box of the gun.

The various features of the invention will be understood and appreciated from the following detailed description read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing an illustrative ammuntion feeding machine and an associated 37 mm. gun assembled in an airplane turret;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the upper end of the machine and a portion of the gun as viewed from the cuter side of the machine;

Fig. 3 shows in perspective the upper end of the machine and a portion of the gun as viewed from the rear, a clip guide, a crcssf-eed assembly and an escapement arm of the machine being shown in y their inoperative positions ready to stack ammunition into a housing or magazine of the ma chine;

Fig. 4 vis a diagrammatic View showing in detail mechanism by means of which clips of cartridges are fed successively to a transfer station preparatory to moving them into a feed box of the gun;

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the upper and under sides of said crossfeed assembly;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views showing in perspective cartridges assembled in two different types of clips which may be effectively used in the machine; and

Fig. 9 is a section on line IX-IX of Fig. 2 illustrating in detail mechanism for guiding clips of cartridges into afeed box of the gun.

The illustrative ammunition feeding machine, which is commonly referred to as anammunition feed, is illustrated with reference to delivering ammunition in the form of clips of cartridges 28 (Figs. 3 and 4) to a feed box 2| (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) of a 37 mm. gun 22, the machine being movable in azimuth and elevation together with the gun. a breech casing or receiver 26 of which is mounted upon a trunnion block24 (Fig. 1)

Each-of the clips 23 (Figs. 3, 4 and '7) in which the cartridges 3Q are assembled, consists of five units hinged together, each unit comprising a guide plate 32 provided with an opening 34 for receiving a pawl 33 (Fig. 9) of a feed slide .35

(Figs. 3 and 9) of the gun 22, and notches 36 (Figs. 3, 4, 7 and 9) for receiving holding and stop pawls (not shown) of feed mechanism of the gun. Secured to the guide plate 32 of each of the clip units is a yoke (it (Figs. 7 and 9) depending legs of which are connected by pivot pins 42 to associated legs of yokes of an adjacent unit. Also secured to the plates 32 and arrangedbetween the legs of the yokes 46' are leaf springs 44 between cooperating pairs of which the cartridges 38 are forced.

A rigid clip 46 (Fig. '8), which may be used instead of the clip 28, comprises a single guide plate 48., having formed in it a plurality of feed pawl receiving openings 50 and holding and stop pawl receiving notches 52. Secured to the plate 48 .is an elongated yoke 56 provided with cartridge receiving recesses 58 and having secured to it pairs of leaf springs 60 between which the cartridges 30 are forced and which serve to retain the cartridges in their proper positions in the clip.

The clips of cartridges v2li are vertically arranged in stacked or tiered relation in a housing or magazine 62 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which has a capacity of twenty clips of cartridges. The clips of Ycartridges 28 are initially Aplaced on rtop of the housing 62, which is commonly referred to as a stack housing, by a gunner, with rims 64 (Figs. 3, 4 and 8) of the cartridges 30 resting in channels 66 of bars 68 opposite ends of which are secured to one pair of endless chains 'l0 (Figs. 3 and 4), the projectile portions of the cartridges 30 resting upon plates 1,2 (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 8) secured at their outer ends to another pair of endless chains 14 (Figs. 3 and 4). Preparatory to loading the clips of cartridges 20 into thestack housing 62, a crossfeed assembly 16 (Figs. 2, 3, A5 and 6), an arm 18 operatively connected to an escapement pawl or detent 80, and a guide 82 (Figs. `2, 3 and 9) for controlling movement of the lclips of cartridges into the feed box of the gun are lmoved from their operative positions, shown in Fig. 2, to their swung back inoperative positions, shown in Fig. 3.

In loading the machine, the pairs of chains 10, 'i4 which carry the channel bars 68 and the plates 'l2 are operated in timed relation hysmoving a worm 84 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) of .a loading crank 86 into meshing engagement with a worm gear 88 secured to a shaft 90 and rotating said.

shaft to cause corresponding bars and plates, which together may be said to constitute .piatforms, holders, or units upon which the clips Aof cartridges are placed, to be lowered into theestaok housing 62 against the action of :batteries 0f springs 22, 84 (Figs. 3 and 4) operatively con'- nected, through mechanism hereinafterdescribedf, to the pairs of chains T0, 14, respectively; As will be explained later, the springs 92, 94., tensioned' by winding the ammunition supporting platforms down into the stack housing `82, `supply power to deliver the platforms 4successively to a transfer or loading station 96 (Fig. 4) .locatedat the top of the stack housingjust vabove `the plane 91 and in substantial alinement with a cartridge receiving opening 98 (Fig. 2) of the feed box!! of the gun 22. The springs .92, 94 :also 'supply power for operating the crossfeed assembly 16 to cause the clips of cartridges .20 which have been moved to said transfer station 96 to fbedelivered to the feed box 2i of the :gun 22..

After the housing or magazine (i2 vhas been filled by stacking into .it twenty clips of nartridges arranged in tiered relation, .the fcls'p guide-V 82 is swung down into its loperative position,

\ shown in Fig. 2, and a clip of cartridges :is `then fed manually into saidclip guide to the box 2i of the gun 22, the first round of said clip being chambered, through mechanism such 1as-=dis closed in Browning Patent No. 1,525,065 and Iin an application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 659,053,5f`iled April 2, L1346 .in the names of .Ernest W. :Stacey and Augustus iD. Willhauck, by actuating an operating lever (not shown) of a lock frame (not shown) of the gun and thereafter operating Va 'charging handle Hill (Figs. 1 and 3) secured to a Yfeed box slide "F02 i3) of said gun. The crossfeed assembly '1f/6 `and the escapement pawl actuating Aarm 1B are then swung from their inoperative positions,shown Fig. 3, to their operative positions, tshown in Fig. 2.

As the fourth cartridge `of `the manually inserted-clip is lstripped from 'said clip, a bar 104 (Fig. 3), which forms part of the escapement pawl actuating arm '118 and has heretofore 'rested on the plates 32 of the clip of 'cartridges entering the feed box 2|, drops down on `the plates 32 .of the top clip of cartridges inthe housing '62, that is, upon the underneath tier of cartridges, thereby releasing through mechanism which will be hereinafter described, the two pairs of chains 10, 14 so that they may be actuated by the springs92, 94 to cause the next lower tier of cartridgesv to be hoisted to the transfer station 96. As the clip of cartridges moves to the transfer station 96, it powers a torsion spring |06 (Figs. 23, 5 and 6) forming part of the crossfeed assembly 16, said spring being released upon the arrival of said clip of cartridges at the transfer station, with the result that spokes |08` of a driver H0, which are secured to a shaft ||2 (Figs. 3, and 6) of said assembly and are arranged adjacent to the last or outermost cartridge in the clip, force said cartridges into the feed box 2| of the gun 22. and arrangement of the crossfeed assembly 16 are such that the trailing end of the clip 26, or 46, during the last part of its movement through the feed box of the gun is engaged by the leading end .of the following clip, thereby insuring that. the separate clips of cartridges shall be fed continuously, as in a continuous belt feed, to the -feed box 2|. Once the delivery of cartridges to the feed box i2 is established, no further attention is required until all the rounds of ammunition in the stack housing 62 have been red, the cartridges being delivered to the feed box as fast as the gun can chamber them.

The stack housing 62 comprises web side plates H4, HB (Figs. l, 2 and 3), a front plate H8, a spring retaining case |20, and a base |22 (Fig. 1) which are screwed or otherwise secured together. The base |22 is rigidly secured to a turret |24 formed partly by a girth ring |26 to which are secured trunnions |21. The trunnions |21 are journaled upon a rotatable azimuth ring |28 and are rotatable in azimuth together with the ring and together with the turret |24 upon said ring. The trunnion block 24 of the gun 22 is secured to a cradle |30 fixed to the turret |24. With the above'construction, it will be clear that the loading machine and the gun move together as a unit in azimuth and elevation.

Supported upon four laterally extending studs |32 (Fig.` 3) of the feed box 2| of the gun 22 is a plate |34l (Figs. 2 and 3) having extending from it flanges which are secured by screws |36 to the stack housing 62. The stack housing 62 is properly positioned with relation to the gun by the plate V|34, the base 32 then being adjusted to the proper position and being rigidly secured by suitable means in said adjusted position to the turret |24 (Fig. 1). Fulcrumed upon a rod |38 mounted upon the plate |34 is the clip guide 82 which is provided at its underside with ways |40 (Figs. 3 and 9) for receiving the plates 32, 48 of the clips 28, 46, respectively, and may be swung from its operating position, shown ln Figs. 2 and 9, to its swung back inoperative position, shown in Fig. 3, when the stack housing 62 is to be filled with clips of cartridges. Y

The ways |40 of the clip guide 82 are held in operative position in proper alinement with the pawl 33 of the feed slide 35 of the gun by a springpressed plunger |44 which latches beneath an abutment |46 (Figs. 3 and 9) to hold the guide in operative position and which is pulled out preparatory to swinging the guide back to its inoperative position. Before moving the clip guide 82 back to its inoperative position, it is necessary to pull the charging handle |00 of the gun 22 far enough rearward to cause the feed slide 35 of the gun to be retracted clear of the clip guide. Bolted to the plate |34 are a pair of channeled guide arms |48 (Fig. 2), |50 (Figs. 2 and 3) The construction l ammunition suporting portions of which are inalinement with the bottom of the cartridge receiving opening 98 in the feed box 2| and are in approximate alinement with lower portions of the cartridges aranged at the transfer station 96.

Mounted upon sprockets |52 (Figs. 3 and 4), |54 (Fig. 4) secured to upper and lower stub shafts |56, |58, respectively, rotatably mounted in the stack housing 62 are the plate supporting chains 14, and mounted upon sprockets |60, |62 secured toa shaft |64 and stub shafts |66, respectively, rotatably mounted in the stack housing are the bar supporting chains 10. After the crossfeed assembly 16, the arm 18, and the clip guide 82 have been swung into their inoperative positions out lof the Way, as above explained, the clips of cartridges are placed successively upon associated bars 68 and plates 12 at the loading station 96, the rims 64 of the cartridges 30 assembled in the clips engaging in the channels 66 of the bars 68 and the projectiles of the cartridges lying upon flat surfaces of the plates 12. It will be noted that the plates 12 are provided with notches |68 (Figs. 3, 4. and 8) which engage the cartridges of the next lower clip stored in the housing 62 and insure against any lateral movement of the clips of cartridges in said housing.

Connected to the central portion of a header |10 (Fig. 4) opposite ends of which are secured to the endless chains 10 is a chain |12 which passes around a pulley |14 rotatably supported upon a shaft |16 secured to the stack housing 62, over a pulley |13 rotatably supported by a frame |80, to which the lower ends of the springs 92 are fixed, and around another pulley |82 rotatably supported upon a shaft |83 mounted upon the stack housing, the end of the chain being fixed to the frame |80. Connected to the central portion of a header |84 secured at its opposite ends to the endless chains 14, respe-ctively, is a chain |86 which passes over pulleys |88 rotatably mounted in the housing 62, over a pulley rotatably mounted in a frame |90 iixed to the lower ends of the springs 94, and connected, after passing over a pulley |92 also rotatably mounted on the housing 62, to the lower end of the frame |90. The upper ends of the springs 92, 94 are attached to headers |81, |89 (Fig. 3) which are secured to the top of the spring retaining casing 20. With the above arrangement, it will be Iappreciated that the vertical movement of the bars 62 and the plates 12 is three times that of the frames |89, |99 which are securedto the lower ends of the springs 92, 94, respectively.

The .shaft 90 has secured to its outer and inner ends at the inside of the housing 62 gears |94, |96 (Figs. 3 and 4) which mesh with gears |98, 209, respectively, rotatably mounted upon a shaft 202 journaled in bearings supported by the opposite side plate H4, ||6 of the housing. The gears |98, 200 are in driving relation with gears 203 (Fig. 4) secured to the stub shaft |84, rotation of the shafts and the sprockets |60 carried thereby causing rotation of the endless chains 10. Secured to the outer end of the shaft 90 outside the housing 62 is a sprocket 204 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) which is operatively connected toa sprocket 266 secured to a shaft 208, rotatable in bearings of the side plates H4, ||6 of the housing, by a chain .209. The tension of the chain 209 may be varied by the use of an idler sprocket 2|0,(Fig. 2) which is rotatably mounted upon an arm 2|2 adjustably held in a desired position4 by a screw 2|4. Mounted inside the housing 62 and secured to the shaft 208 are gears 2|6 (Fig. 4)

7 which mesh-with gears 2|8 respectively secured to the upper stub shafts IE6-to which are secured the sprockets |52 for driving the plate carrying chains 1li; f

The crank 86 is mounted for rotation upon a rod 22o (Fig. 3) fixed to the-housing 62, said crank being normally forced by a spring 222 into a lposition in which the worm 84 is outcf engagement with the worm gear 88. When the crank 86 is'pressed inward against the action ci the spring 22.2 and is rotated, the worm 84 meshes with the gear 88 and is vdrawn against-the housing-continued rotation of the crank vcausing rotation'cf the shaft 90. It will l1oeapparent 'thatthe manual rotation of the shaft Q upon turning the crank 8S causes, through the mechanism above described, the pairs of chains lil, 14 to move clips of cartridges placed in the transfer station upon the upper channeled bar 53 andthe plate 12, as

shown in Fig. 4, .downward into the .stack housing B2 against the action of the springs 92, 94. 'When a followingY channeled lbar 68 and .plate 1.2 have been swung over the sprockets 1.60, |52', respectively, to the transfer station and another vclip of .cartridges has been placed upon said bar .and plate, the crank is again turned vto `lower .the clip of cartridges down into the housing i32 .against the action of the springs 22, 94, such action being repeated until twenty clips of cartridges havebeen loaded into stacked or tiered relation in the housing.

Secured-to the shaft 9.0 is a two-toothed ratchet i224 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) against which the escapement p-awl 13|! is constantly forced by a spring 226. The pawl il@ is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 2132 and is held against lengthwise shifting movementupon the shaft. Also loosely mounted -upon and held against lengthwise shifting movement on the shaft 202 is a yoke 230 (Figs. 2 and '3.) carrying a rod 232 passing through bores in the rear end ofthe escapement arm T8, the arm having extending shoulders `23| (Fig. 2) which normally engage inwardly extending pins 233 vsecured to the yoke. As best shown in Fig. 2, a boss of the lpawl Bil is provided with an arcuate notch 23'4 into which extends a shoulder of the yoke 23B, the arrangement being such that when the yoke has been rotated countercloclrwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, upon vdownward movement of the arm 18 by reason ofthe bar |514 being .permitted to drop from the plate 32 of the clip of cartridges entering the feed box 2| of the gun down onto the plates of the top clip-of cartridges in the housing 62, the yoke kwill cause'the pawl to move counterclockwise away from one of two teeth 236 (Fig. 3) of the ratchet 224 with lwhich said pawl then engages.

As the gunner turns the crank 85 to low-er into the housing f62 the channeled bars Al and the plates 1.2 constituting the platforms upon which the `clips of cartridges have been placed, the ratchet 224 engaged by the paw-l 80 will rotate counterclockwise, as viewed Fig. 2. When the crank .86 `has been turned clockwise the proper amount to mo-Ve Athe next platform into va position to receive the following clip Aof cartridges, the pawl 8] falls .behind one .of the teeth .236 of the ratchet 22d, thereby .insuring .against upward movement of the clips of cartridges in .the housing .62 under the action of .the spring 92, 94 incase the worm 84 .should become disengaged 4from the worm gear 88. It will be noted, however, 4that when` the Worm .84 is in driving relation with the worm vgear 88 is 'locks the gear :against movement under the action. ofthe springs 9.2, 4, the gunner being able to release the crank 86 at any time without danger of vthe tiers of cartridges in the housing 62 being moved. Accordingly, the `mechanism by which the clips of cartridges are loaded in the housing S2 maybe ydescribed as self-locking.

When twenty clips of cartridges have been stacked in the housing 62, the uppermost clip of cartridges is positioned just below the plane indicated by reference numeral 91 (Fig. 4), said plane being just below the transfer station f9.6. As above explained, after swinging the clip 2guide 82 ldown into its operative position, the vclip of cartridges is placed in the transfer 'station 95 and is inserted manually into vthe feed box 2.4 of the gun 22.

Before swinging the crossfeed assembly 1.6 back into its operative position, shown in Fig.. ;2, the escapement arm 'I8 is swung inward .from itsinoperative position, shown in Fig. .3, to .its operative position, shown in Fig. 2, the bar Y|114 at the forward end of the arm being pressed againstthe guide plates 32 of the clip of cartridges already partly fed manually into the feed box 2|, by a leaf spring 242 (Figs. 2 and 3) carriedfby a block 2M secured by screws 246 to `a supporting frame 248 of the crossfeed assembly. As the iclip of cartridges advances into the feed box 251 to strip the vnext to the last cartridge from Vthe clip1 the bar MM drops behind the clip of cartridges onto the plates s2 of the top clip of cartridges arranged in the housing just below the plane 9i, with the result that the pawl 89, operating .against the action of the spring 226 and under the action of the spring-actuated arm 'I8 ,and the yoke 2.3i), is moved counter-clockwise, as viewed iin 2, away from one of the teeth v231i of the ratchet 224', thereby enabling the shaft 90 to rotate under the action of the springs 92, 94 .and accordingly the ammunition supporting platforms in .the housing 52 to be elevated. As the top clip of voartridges previously in stacked relation the housing 62 is elevated to the transfer station .96, .it raises with it the escapement arm 148, together with the yoke 230, and permits the pawl actuated by the spring 22El to rotate .into such a. position that it is engaged -by the following tooth 236 of the ratchet .224, which is moved through mechanism above described in timed relation With'the chains lil, 14, thereby stopping rotation of the ratchet v221i and accordingly movement of the tiered clips of cartridges, the construction .and arrangement being such that said movement of the ratchet and the chains ceases when said top clip :of cartridges has been moved to the transfer station 496 ready to be acted upon .by the crossfeed kassembly 16.

.As above stated, the clip .of .cartridges inthe transfer station B is .slid into the Afeed box I2| Vof the gun 22 by the crossfeed assembly '13 which will .now be described in detail .and is .energized in response to movement of the npermost clip of cartridges in the sta-ck housing .6.2 to the transf-.er station. The .crossfeed .assembly 'L6 .is mounted in the frame v248 (Figs. .2, ,3, 5 and 6) which .has .secured to ita pair :of studs 250 (Figs. 2 .and V3) rotatably mounted .in .bearings 252 .of thestack housing 2. its horizontal position by .a .pair of latches 254 whichane secured to a rod 255 iFigs. 2, .Band .5) rotatably mounted in the .frame and have hooked ends shaped `and arranged .to be swung under abutments 2.5.6. of the housing. The latches 2.54Y

are .normally urged toward latching positions by a spring 250 one .end of which is secured to fthe `frame, 248 and the other end -of Whchissecured The frame 248 is locked in to a collar 262 fixed to the rod 256. -When the latches 254 are released the frame rises to an inoperative position, shown in Fig. 3, under the action of a spring 264 (Fig. 2) one end of which is fixed to. the frame 248 and the other end of which is attached to a collar 266 fixed to the Stack housing.

' As previously stated, the shaft I l2, which -is mounted for rotation in the frame 248, has secured to its opposite ends the spokes |08 of the driver ||0. When the crossfed assembly 16 is in its operative position, the spokes |08 are approximately engaged by the outermost cartridge of the clip in position ready to be transferred to the feed box 2| of the gun 22, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The driver is powered by the actuator spring |06 one end of which is attached to one of the spokes |08 andthe other end of which is attached to a ratchet 268 (Figs. 3, and 6) rotatable upon the shaft H2.'

Secured by screws 210 (Figs. 2 and 5) to the frame 248 is a bracket 212 (Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6) which carries a pin 214 upon which is pivoted a link 216 pivotally connected through a pin 218 to a drop arm 280.v Rotatable upona pin 282 (Figs. 3 and 6) carried by the lower end of the drop arm 280 are rolls 284 which are forced against the plates 32 of the clip of cartridges in the transfer station 96 by a spring 286 the upper end of which lis fixed to the pin 218 and the lower end of which is xed to the frame 248. As the next to the last cartridge in the clip in the feed box 2l of the gun 22 is stripped from the clip, the rolls 284 under theV action of the spring 286 drop onto the plates of the next lower clip of cartridges, that is, the upper clip of cartridges in the stack housing. As said upper clip of cartridges is raised to the transfer station 96 by mechanism above described, the arm 280 is forced upward, causing a pawl 288 (Figs. 3, 5 and 6) mounted upon a stud 290 carried by the arm to rotate the ratchet 268 counterclockwise, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, against the action of the spring 286, thus additionally loading the actuating spring |06, the shaft H2 at this time being held against rotation by the engagement of a pawl 292, rotatably mounted upon a pin 294 (Figs. 3 and 6) secured to the frame, with one of the shoulders 296 (Figs. 5 and 6) of a ratchet 298 secured to the shaft. The arm 260 together with vthe pawl 288 carried thereby may be referred to -under the action of the actuator spring |06 by a pawl 306 (Figs. 5 and 6) hinged upon a pin 308 (Fig. 5) carried by the bracket 212 and constantly forced against the ratchet 268 by a spring-pressed plunger 3|0 (Figs. 5 and 6) slidablein the frame. The actuator spring |06 is initially energized by turning the driver in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, the pawls 306, 292 acting against shoulders of the ratchets 268, 298, respectively, to maintain the initial loading of the spring.

As the drop arm '260 is elevated by the upper clip of cartridges being moved to the transfer station 96 in the housing 62, the actuator spring |06 is energized by the action of the pawl 288 mounted on the stud 290 of the arm 280. When the clip of cartridges arrives at the transfer station 96, the roll 300 ori the pawl 292 is engaged by' the plates 32 of said clip, causing the pawl to be moved away from the shoulder 296 of the ratchet 298. Sincefthe ratchet 268 is being held by the pawl 306, the shaft l0 will rotate under the action of the spring |06, causing the driver I0 to move the leading plate 32 of the clip into the Ways |40 (Figs. 3 and 9) of the clip guide 82 and the cartridges assembled in the clip to slide over the arms |48 (Fig. 2), |50, the leading cartridge assembled in the clip being moved into the side opening 98 of the feed box 2| of the gun 22 and the feed pawl 33 (Fig. 9) of the feed slide 35 to engage the leading opening 34 in the clip ready to feed the clip automatically to the gun. Before the clip of cartridges has moved a substantial distance, the roll 300 slides off the end of the clip, allowing the pawl '292 to be forced against the ratchet 298 secured to the shaft I |2 before the following shoulder 296 of the ratchet moves into engagement with the pawl, the construction and arrangement being such that as said following shoulder engages the pawl 292 rotationv of the shaft ||2 ceases, the spokes |08 of the driver ||0 being stopped in such positions that the cartridges of the next clip may be moved upward into their proper positions ready to be driven into the feed box.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for feeding ammunition to automatic guns, means for receiving cartridges assembled in groups in separate clips, mechanism for feeding said clips of cartridges successively to a transfer station adjacent to a feed box of a gun, and means energized by and operated in timed relation with said mechanism for delivering said clips of cartridges to the feed box of the gun.

2. In a machine for feeding ammunition to automatic guns, platforms upon which cartridges assembled in groups in separate clips are positioned, power. means operatively connected to said platforms, means for successively moving said platforms actuated by said power means into a predetermined position in alinement with a feed box of a gun, and means energized by said power means for successively feeding the clips of cartridges in said predetermined position into said feed box.

3. In a machine for feeding ammunition to automatic guns, platforms upon which cartridges assembled in groups in separate clips are positioned, power means operatively connected to said platforms, means operated by said power means for moving the platforms successively to a transfer station adjacent to a feed box of a gun, springoperated means for moving the clips of cartridges successively from the transfer station into the feed box of the gun, and means operative in timed relation with the platforms for powering said spring-operated means and for releasing said means to cause the clip of cartridges in said station to be transferred into the feed box of the gun.

4. In a machine for feeding ammunition to automatic guns, a magazine, a plurality of plat- `formsconstructed and arranged to support cartridges assembled in groups in separate clips in stacked relation in said magazine, spring-actuated means for successively moving the platforms and accordingly the clips of cartridges to a transfer station adjacent to a gun, means for successively moving the clips of cartridges at said station into a feed box of the gun, a detent oper- `atively connected to the platforms, mechanism responsive to movement of a clip of cartridges being moved into the feed box for releasing said detent to'cause the platforms acted on by said spring-actuated means to move, thereby delivering a following clip of cartridges in said magazine to the transfer station, said mechanism also'being responsive to movement ofsaid clip of cartridges totheY transfer station to cause said detent to Stop movement of the platforms when said following clip of cartridges arrives at said transfer station. Y f

lL In a machine for feeding ,ammunition to automatic guns, pairs of endless chains operatively connected together for movement in timed relation, platforms which are'secured to said pairs of chains and are constructed and arranged to support cartridges assembled in groups in separate clips, spring-actuated members operatively connected to the chains for constantly urging the platforms toward a transfer station from which the clips of cartridges are moved to a feed box of a gun, a detent for Stopping movement of the chains and accordingly movement of the pla-tforms, and mechanism which is operatively connected to the detent and is responsive to movement of said clips of cartridges away from said transfer station, said mechanism being constructed and arranged `to operate said detent to cause said platforms to bemoved toward said transfer station by action of 'said spring-actuated members upon said chains, thereby causing a Olii? of .cartridges upon a following platform to be moved to the transfer station, said mechanism also being responsive to movement of said clip of cartridges being moved to said transfer station and being constructed and arranged to move said detent to a position in which it arrests movement of theplatform when the clip of cartridges on said following platform arrives at the transfer station.

6. In an ammunition feeder for automatic guns, twov pairs of endlesschains, plates secured to one pair of chains, channeled bars secured to thev other pair of chains opposite the plates respectively of the first pair of chains, means for operating said pairs of chains in timed relation t0 cause clips of cartridges supported by the opposite pairs of plates and bars to be moved successively to a transfer station adjacent Vto a feed box of a gun, means for successively feeding the clips of cartridges from ther transfer station to said feed box, and means operative in, response to movement of the clips of cartridges from the transfer station to the feed box and movement of the clipsv of cartridges to said transfer station for causing starting and stopping of the chains andaccordingly of the plates and bars..A

7. In` combination with an automatic gun which 'separate'clips spring-powered means which are secured to said pairs of chains and are constructed and arranged constantly to urge said plates rand bars in the housing and the clips' of' cartridges supported thereby toward a transfer rstation arranged adjacent to a feed; box-ofa gun, a crossfeed assembly for successively movingl clips of' cartridges at the transfer station into the feed' box -of the gun, and mechanisml comprising a detent 12 operatively connected to said chains for limiting movement of the chains under the action of said spring-powered means when corresponding plates and bars are arranged at said transfer station, said mechanismk comprising a pawlV which is responsive to movement of the clips of cartridges away from and toward said transfer station and cooperates with the detent to check movement of the detent upon arrival of a clip of cartridges at the transfer station.

8. In an ammunition feeder for automatic guns', a housing for receiving cartridges which are assembled in groups in separate clips in tiered relation, means for delivering said clips of cartridges successively from the housing to a transfer station located adjacent to a feed box of agun, a crossfeed assembly for deliveringA clipsv of cartridges at said station successively to said feed box, said assembly comprising rotatable spokes positioned adjacent to an end cartridge of each of the clips of cartridges moved to the transfer station, a spring for actuating saidr spokes, means actuated bythe clip of cartridges as it moves to its transfer position forr loading the spring, and Vmeans actuated by the clip of cartridges when it arrives at the transfer station 4for releasing said spring to cause the spring to drive the rota-table spokes and accordingly to move the clip of cartridges' into'the feedy box.

9, In an ammunition feeder for automatic guns, a crossfed assembly for moving cartridges assembled in groups in separate-clips from a transfer' station, to which saidclips of cartridges are moved successively, to a feedY box of a gum-said assembly comprising a rotatable` shaft, pairs of circumferentially arranged' spokes secured to the shaft, a ratchet rotatably mounted upon the shaft, a coil spring surrounding the `shaft and fixed at one end to one of the spokesv and at the other end to the ratchet, a detent for enabling the ratchet to rotate a substantialA distance in one direction only upon the shaft, a charger which operates against the ratchet and is movable under the action of aclip of cartridges beingv delivered to the transfer station to energize .the spring, a. lock to feedz said clip of cartridges into they feed box,

means for energizing said spring, mechanism for retaining said driverV against rotation, means responsive to movementl of the clip of cartridges to said station for rendering said mechanism inoperative to permit the` spring to'cause the driver to move said clip of cartridges into the feed box of Athe gun, and means responsive to movement of saidl clip of' cartridges into theV feed box for again rendering said mechanism operative to retain said driver against movement.

ERNEST W. STACEY. FRANK W; REINHOLD;

(References: on following page),

REFERENCES CITED Number The following references are of record in the me of uns patent. 214013554 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Number Name Date 1,073,709 Revelli Sept'. 23. 1913 Number 1,453,439 Cedillo May 1: 1923 449943 Name Date Reynolds et al. Apr. 6, 1937 Hertel Aug. 14, 1945 Molins et a1. June 4, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain July 7, 1936 France June 30, 1931 

